Province IX Bishops Condemn U.S. Embargo
Episcopal News Service. May 23, 1985 [85114]
NEW YORK (DPS, May 23) -- Episcopal bishops in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America have "energetically" condemned the U.S. trade embargo against Nicaragua as "inhuman and non-Christian."
In a recent meeting of the House of Bishops of Province IX in Mexico City, the prelates also asked six of their members -- the bishops of Central America and Panama -- to form an ad hoc committee and "declare a permanent session as long as the crisis lasts in the region."
The condemnation of the trade embargo was coupled to a request that the House of Bishops of the whole Episcopal Church and bishops of the Anglican Communion join them in the action and "raise their voices and use their influence" to bring about a reversal of the policy. In their declaration, they backed the actions of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, which has opposed economic reprisals and covert military operations by the U.S.
The strongly-worded condemnation was paired with the action requesting the ad hoc committee and giving that panel the primary role in coordinating the Church's response to the complex crisis that embroils Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama and Belize. All but Costa Rica and Belize are dioceses of the Episcopal Church. Costa Rica is an extra-provincial diocese and Belize is a member of the Church of the Province of the West Indies.
The bishops are asked to carry on the active search for "peace, well-being and development of the region," coordinate the means of resolving the refugee problems and serve as the channel of communication to the rest of the Episcopal Church.
The bishops have asked for financial support from the churches of Latin America and from the Episcopal Church for the program. In addition to the countries named, the province consists of the three dioceses of Mexico and the dioceses of Colombia and the Dominican Republic.
We, the bishops of the IX Province, meeting in Mexico, request that our brother bishops of the Region of Central America and Panama constitute themselves in an ad hoc committee and that they declare a permanent session as long as the crisis lasts in the region.
We request them to:
- 1) Continue active search for peace, well being and development of the region, and the support of efforts to implement non-violent solutions.
- 2) Work in coordination on the search for the solution of the refugee problems, and to work towards solving them.
- 3) Serve as a channel of communication to the rest of the Episcopal Church and as a means of interpreting the Central America crisis as well as advocating for the region.
Therefore:
- We request from the Latin American churches and the Episcopal Church at large, with their institutions, the necessary funds to carry out this task.
We, the bishops of the Episcopal Church in Latin America (IX Province), meeting in Mexico City, want to register our concern for the people of Nicaragua due to the inhuman and non-Christian action on the part of the government of the United States in declaring an embargo on the Republic of Nicaragua.
We Declare:
- 1) That we energetically condemn this inhuman action that will only bring suffering to the people.
- 2) We request that our brother bishops of the Episcopal Church of the United States raise their voices and use their influence in order that this measure be abolished immediately. We also request from all the Anglican Communion that they condemn this inhuman action.
- 3) We back the action of the Executive Council of our Church in registering its opposition to any economic reprisals or covert action on the part of the United States Government against Nicaragua and the other countries of Central America.
- 4) We are praying and working for peace in Central America and for all the people of Nicaragua. We especially pray for the Rt. Rev. Sturdie Downs and the people of the Episcopal Church in Nicaragua that has been serving God in that nation for over a century.